The historical overview of constitutional reforms towards limited leadership in Tanzania

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Periodical article

Title:	The historical overview of constitutional reforms towards limited leadership in Tanzania
Author:	Wambali, Michael K.
Year:	2008
Periodical:	Journal of African and international law
Volume:	1
Issue:	1
Pages:	181-215
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Tanzania
Subjects:	presidential systems power constitutional reform
Abstract:	This paper contributes to the debate in Tanzania on whether there is a need to cut down the excessive powers of the President under the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania. By comparing the powers of the President with those of the former colonial Governor, the paper shows that the latter's powers were inherited by the President of the Republic at independence. It examines the utilization of these powers under the single party system of the period 1962-1992, and the constitutional reforms which took effect with the introduction of multiparty politics in 1992. The constitutional corrective measures undertaken include the establishment of a system of public accountability, a procedure for the impeachment of the President, the accountability of the government to the National Assembly, and the vote of no confidence against the government. The paper argues that the reforms were largely cosmetic and have not sufficiently addressed the problem of excessive presidential power. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract]